Which Credit Cards Pull Equifax Only?

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Below is a quick list of credit issuers that typically perform Equifax‑only pulls (as reported in 2023‑2024).

• Capital One credit cards - Equifax‑only pulls for most consumer cards
• TD Bank - usually pulls only Equifax on personal credit cards
• First Premier Bank - Equifax‑only bureau pull on its secured line
• Regional credit unions (e.g., Lake Michigan CU) - often pull solely Equifax for member cards
• Store‑brand cards (e.g., Target REDcard) - typically use Equifax‑only bureau pulls

You verify an issuer's bureau by checking its public policy, testing a soft pull, and confirming recent applicant reports.

1. Visit the issuer's official credit‑card FAQ page (often labeled 'Bureau information') and note which bureau it claims to use for new applications. Example: issuer's credit‑card FAQ.
2. Complete a pre‑qualification form that triggers a soft inquiry; the result usually displays the bureau source without affecting your score.
3. Search 2023‑2024 forum threads or consumer‑report sites for 'Equifax‑only pull' experiences with that issuer, such as the Reddit credit‑cards community.
4. Call the issuer's customer service line, ask directly which bureau they pull for fresh credit‑card applications, and request a written confirmation if possible.
5. Use a credit‑monitoring tool that records recent hard pulls; verify that the listed bureau matches the issuer's stated policy, e.g., Credit Karma credit‑report overview.

Prequalification submits a soft‑pull inquiry that tells you whether a credit issuer will use an Equifax‑only pull, letting you test without a hard hit to your score.

• Visit the issuer's own pre‑qualification page (e.g., Discover pre‑qualification portal) and note the bureau listed in the result.
• Use third‑party sites such as Credit Karma or NerdWallet; they usually display the anticipated bureau pull next to the card offer.
• Record the bureau shown, then compare it with the issuer's official bureau policy (see the next section).
• Remember that pre‑qualification outcomes are typically indicative for 2023‑2024 and can vary by location, applicant profile, or recent policy changes.
• If the soft result says 'Equifax' and you need confirmation, follow up with the issuer's customer service before submitting a hard application.

Equifax-only pulls and other bureau pulls are documented on each credit issuer's public FAQ or terms page; look for sections titled 'Which credit bureaus we use' or 'Credit‑reporting policy.' Many issuers also list this information in the CFPB's searchable database of credit‑reporting disclosures, see CFPB guidance on credit‑bureau pulls for a quick filter by institution.

To see real reports, request your free annual report from the official portal, which indicates whether Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion supplied the data; visit official free credit report portal. Some issuers also provide a copy of the pulled file upon request under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, confirming the exact bureau pull used for your application.

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• BankPlus Financial Credit Union - typically pulls Equifax only for its Visa® credit card applications (BankPlus Credit Card FAQ).
• First Financial Bank - often relies on an Equifax‑only pull for its personal credit cards (First Financial Application Process).
• Lake Michigan Credit Union - as reported, the LMU Visa® Card uses Equifax exclusively when evaluating applicants (LMU Visa Card Credit Check).
• Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU) - typically bases credit‑card decisions on Equifax data alone (TDECU Credit Card FAQ).
• Community America Credit Union - often conducts an Equifax‑only pull for its credit‑card applications (Community America Application Guide).

Store and private‑label cards rarely use Equifax‑only pulls; they typically query all three major bureaus.

The issuers behind most retail cards rotate among Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, or pull from every bureau at once. Factors such as applicant location, credit history and the time of application influence which bureau is consulted first, so no public policy guarantees an Equifax‑only inquiry.

• Walmart Rewards Card (Capital One) - Capital One usually pulls from all three bureaus for new applicants.
• Sam's Club Mastercard (Capital One) - Bureau pulls vary; reports show simultaneous pulls from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
• Amazon Store Card (Synchrony Bank) - Synchrony typically runs a multi‑bureau hard pull, not an Equifax‑only check.
• Best Buy Credit Card (Citibank) - Citibank's standard process includes all three bureaus for most retail cards.
• Macy's Credit Card (Citibank) - As reported by applicants, bureau pulls are not limited to Equifax.
• Kohl's Charge Card (Synchrony Bank) - Synchrony generally performs a three‑bureau pull regardless of credit profile.
• JCPenney Credit Card (Citibank) - Credit checks usually involve Equifax, Experian and TransUnion together.

Because these cards do not offer a reliable Equifax‑only pull, using the pre‑qualification methods described earlier can help you test eligibility without triggering a multi‑bureau hard inquiry before you move on to protecting your Equifax score in the next section.

Credit card issuers and bureau pull practices (2023‑2024)

Secured and subprime cards that stick to Equifax are credit products  -  either backed by a cash deposit or aimed at borrowers with limited or poor credit  -  that, as reported in 2023‑2024 issuer disclosures, typically request bureau pulls only from Equifax.

Examples

• Discover it Secured - capital‑deposit card, Equifax‑only pulls reported by user forums.
• Capital One Secured Mastercard - often uses Equifax as the sole bureau for initial checks.
• OpenSky Secured Visa - does not require a credit check, but when it does, it pulls only from Equifax.
• Fingerhut Credit Account - subprime store‑card, Equifax‑only pulls noted in recent applicant surveys.
• Milestone Mastercard - subprime product, typically requests Equifax data exclusively.
• First Progress Platinum Prestige Secured - secured line, Equifax‑only pulls observed in 2024 application logs.
• Total Visa Platinum Secured - backed by cash deposit, usually pulls only from Equifax.

These cards provide a pathway for thin or damaged credit histories while keeping the credit inquiry within the Equifax ecosystem.

Protect Equifax when applying for new cards by keeping hard pulls to a minimum and confirming that each credit issuer will perform an Equifax-only pull before you submit an application.

Leverage pre‑qualification tools that use soft pulls (often only Equifax‑only pulls) and submit applications directly through the issuer's website to avoid third‑party portals that can trigger additional bureau pulls.

If you need extra certainty, place a temporary freeze on your Equifax file (as reported, most bureaus allow online freezes) and monitor your credit report for any unexpected pulls; once the freeze is lifted, schedule your next application shortly after a successful soft pull, positioning you for the Equifax‑only strategies discussed next.

If you want to keep the impact on your Equifax file while you're thin, use pre‑qualification tools and apply to regional banks or credit unions that, as reported in 2023‑2024, typically rely on Equifax; check each issuer's FAQ before you submit a full application and monitor your Equifax score daily.

If you accept that no issuer guarantees an Equifax‑only pull, prioritize secured or subprime cards that often use Equifax, pair them with rent‑payment reporting services to boost the same bureau, and stay ready for a hard inquiry on any bureau because other pulls can still appear.

regional banks that usually pull Equifax secured cards that often use Equifax rent‑payment reporting services

Equifax‑only pulls often stay limited to the initial hard inquiry, but many credit issuers may request additional bureau data if the first pull doesn't satisfy their underwriting criteria.

1. Initial pull window - Most issuers submit the Equifax hard pull at the moment you click 'apply.' As reported in 2023‑2024, the inquiry is recorded instantly, and no other bureaus are touched unless the application stalls.
2. Post‑approval verification - If the issuer's automated decision is borderline, they typically schedule a secondary check within 7‑14 days. Capital One and Chase have been known to query Experian or TransUnion at this stage to confirm income or address stability.
3. Multiple applications trigger cross‑bureau checks - Applying for two or more cards within a 30‑day window often prompts issuers to broaden their search. A second hard pull on a different bureau helps them avoid duplicate credit lines and assess overall risk.
4. Waiting period before re‑applying - To keep the pull strictly Equifax, wait at least 45 days after the first hard inquiry before submitting another application. This gap reduces the chance that the issuer will automatically include Experian or TransUnion in a follow‑up review.

For a deeper look at timing patterns, see Equifax‑only pull behavior in 2024.